A CHILD has told the Royal Court how an alleged confrontation outside a place of worship left them feeling “scared”.
The incident is said to have happened as worshippers emerged from Friday prayers, with members of the congregation describing how they stepped in to protect the youngster.
The court heard that what followed left a religious community in Jersey “shaken up” and questioning whether they could feel safe while practising their faith.
Tamara Jane Dubois (37) and Jade Clarke James Hamon (52) are accused of shouting Islamophobic abuse and attacking three people outside Jersey’s mosque during Ramadan in March.
The couple deny one charge of using threatening or abusive language and an alternative charge of using threatening or abusive words.
Ms Dubois has admitted assaulting a child under 16 during the incident but denies assaulting two congregation members who intervened.
Opening the trial before two Jurats, Crown Advocate Lauren Taylor said the couple allegedly told people leaving the mosque that they would inject them with pork, called them sex traffickers and said they were “inferior”. They are also accused of threatening to “murder” them.
The child, who had been reading a book outside the mosque, said Mr Hamon told them to “stop reading the Quran” – despite the reading material being unrelated to Islam.
The youngster told the court that they had disclosed their age and repeatedly asked the couple to leave them alone.
Describing Ms Dubois approaching them, the child said: “She got close to my face to the point I could feel her breathing, so I pushed her away.”
Two congregation members said they formed a “barrier” between Ms Dubois and the youngster, but alleged that she then assaulted them.
One claimed she kicked him by swinging her leg backwards “like when you kick a football”.
“It was intentional because she looked me in the eye when she did it,” he said.
The second man alleged that Ms Dubois attempted to punch him in the face but missed.
CCTV footage showed part of the assault on the child and congregation members separating Ms Dubois from the youngster. The couple then walked away backwards, with Mr Hamon holding up a sign of a middle finger.
One witness said the incident had deeply affected the Island’s Muslim community.
“It was actually quite upsetting,” he said. “We live in Jersey, we never get these sorts of incidents. I have lived here eight years. You’re shocked a bit because you don’t expect it.
“We’re just coming out of prayers. We’re in a calm state. Regardless of what religion you are, I think you should be able to pray.”
Another described feeling “scared” and said the confrontation risked leaving a “bad taste” for people attending prayers.
Ms Dubois and Mr Hamon are expected to argue that the assaults were committed in self-defence and deny using Islamophobic slurs.
Advocate Heidi Heath, defending Mr Hamon, asked one witness whether he had discussed his evidence with others.
He replied: “We have spoken about it in the community because it’s an incident that has affected the community quite deeply.”
Commissioner Alan Binnington is presiding alongside Jurats Dulake and Averty. The trial continues.
